Cox to stay for the season: Simpson

West Coast coach Adam Simpson has promised that tomorrow night’s clash with Richmond will not be champion ruckman Dean Cox’s last game for the club

Simpson, who also expects Mitch Brown to return to the line up if he gets through training today, said that while no firm plan had been mapped out for the last six weeks of the season, he expected Cox to play again.

“He will play more than just this week. We haven’t mapped out the whole six games but this is not his last game,” he said.

Simpson expects to make a number of changes from the team that beat Brisbane in Brisbane before the Eagles had the bye last weekend, and warned that West Coast were confronting a Richmond team that had its “mojo” back.

But he also said the Eagles still had plenty of spirit in the group and were striking a good balance between exploring the list without completely ruling out the possibility finals action this year.

Players had returned from their week off in a good state of mind, he said.

“Last time we had a bye we played Collingwood and it was one of our better performances for the year. We didn’t get the win but all of the indicators pointed to a good break and a refreshed group so we have gone down a similar path.”

“We have trained well. It is always a good sign when they come back after four days and they train well. Plus we had the Dean situation as well,” he said.

Cox announced on Monday that he would retire at the end of the season. Simpson said the departure of champions was part of life in football.

“It is probably part of a transition that started before I got here to be honest. We lost three or four players last year as well and to lose Dean and Darren this year as well is just part of life.”

“It is the start of something new with me but it happens every year,” he said.